Prioritising systemic cancer therapies applying ESMO's tools and other resources to assist in improving cancer care globally: the Kazakh experience

N J Latino; M Galotti; N I Cherny; E G E de Vries; J-Y Douillard; D Kaidarova; A Ilbawi

doi:10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100362

Prioritising systemic cancer therapies applying ESMO's tools and other resources to assist in improving cancer care globally: the Kazakh experience

ESMO Open. 2022 Feb;7(1):100362. doi: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100362. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Authors

N J Latino¹, M Galotti², N I Cherny³, E G E de Vries⁴, J-Y Douillard⁵, D Kaidarova⁶, A Ilbawi⁷

Affiliations

¹ ESMO Head Office, Lugano, Switzerland. Electronic address: nicola.latino@esmo.org.
² ESMO Head Office, Lugano, Switzerland.
³ Cancer Pain and Palliative Medicine Service, Department of Medical Oncology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
⁴ Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/VriesElisabeth.
⁵ Medical Oncology, Integrated Centers for Oncology (ICO), Nantes, France.
⁶ Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology, Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov, Kazakh Cancer Society, Almaty, The Republic of Kazakhstan.
⁷ Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Abstract

Background: In Kazakhstan, cancer is the second leading cause of death with a major public health and economic burden. In the last decade, cancer care and cancer medicine costs have significantly increased. To improve the efficiency and efficacy of cancer care expenditure and planning, the Kazakhstan Ministry of Health requested assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) to review its systemic cancer treatment protocols and essential medicines list and identify high-impact, effective regimens.

Materials and methods: ESMO developed a four-phase approach to review Kazakhstan cancer treatment protocols: (i) perform a systematic analysis of the country's cancer medicines and treatment protocols; (ii) cross-reference the country's cancer protocols with the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the ESMO-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale and the European Medicines Agency's medicine availability and indications database; (iii) extract treatment recommendations from the ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines; (iv) expert review for all cancer medicines not on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and the country treatment protocols.

Results: This ESMO four-phase approach led to the update of the Kazakhstan national essential cancer medicines list and the list of cancer treatment protocols. This review has led to the withdrawal of several low-value or non-evidence-based medicines and a budget increase for cancer care to include all essential and highly effective medicines and treatment options.

Conclusion: When applied effectively, this four-phase approach can improve access to medicines, efficiency of expenditure and sustainability of cancer systems. The WHO-ESMO collaboration illustrated how, by sharing best practices, tools and resources, we can address access to cancer medicines and positively impact patient care.

Keywords: ESMO-MCBS; HTA; UHC; WHO; cancer care expenditure; cancer medicines.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

China
Humans
Immunotherapy
Medical Oncology*
Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Grants and funding

001/WHO_/World Health Organization/International